Septran DS 800 mg/160 mg Tablet

Septran DS 800 mg/160 mg Tablet is a prescription antibiotic tablet that contains sulfamethoxazole 800 mg plus trimethoprim 160 mg in each tablet. It belongs to the sulfonamide antibiotic combination class and is used to treat certain bacterial infections, including some urinary tract, respiratory, ear, intestinal, and skin infections when a doctor decides it is appropriate. Septran DS 800 mg/160 mg Tablet works only against bacteria, not viruses.

How it works: In Septran DS 800 mg/160 mg Tablet, sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim block two different steps bacteria need to make folic acid, which helps stop bacterial growth. Because it is a tablet, the medicine is swallowed and absorbed through the digestive tract to treat the infection from inside the body.

Septran DS 800 mg/160 mg Tablet is the double-strength tablet, so it delivers a higher amount of medicine per tablet than lower-strength sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim tablets. That can make dosing more convenient for adults who have been specifically assessed by a doctor and need this strength rather than a lower-strength tablet.

• Urinary tract infections
• Certain respiratory tract infections
• Some ear infections
• Some skin and soft tissue infections
• Traveler’s diarrhea caused by susceptible bacteria
• Other infections your doctor determines are appropriate

• Swallow Septran DS 800 mg/160 mg Tablet whole with a full glass of water.
• Take it exactly as prescribed; do not crush, split, or chew unless your prescriber tells you to.
• It may be taken with food or milk if it upsets your stomach.
• Drink extra fluids during treatment unless your doctor has told you to limit fluids.
• Take doses at evenly spaced times to keep the antibiotic level steady in your body.
• Finish the full course even if you start feeling better.
• If you miss a dose, take it when you remember unless it is close to the next dose; do not double up.

Each Septran DS 800 mg/160 mg Tablet provides sulfamethoxazole 800 mg plus trimethoprim 160 mg. The dosing schedule varies by infection and patient factors, but this strength is often taken twice daily in adults when a doctor prescribes it. There is no single maximum dose for every infection, so your doctor decides the exact number of tablets and how many times per day you should take them.

Do not change your dose or stop the medicine without speaking to your doctor.

Common side effects of Sulfamethoxazole + Trimethoprim may include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Mild diarrhea
• Headache
• Rash or itching
• Increased sensitivity to sunlight, which may be more noticeable with this double-strength tablet

• Septran DS 800 mg/160 mg Tablet is a higher-strength antibiotic tablet, so it should be used only when a doctor has judged that this dose is appropriate.
• Tell your doctor if you have a sulfa allergy, severe kidney disease, liver disease, or a history of blood disorders.
• This medicine can raise potassium levels in some people, especially those with kidney problems or taking certain heart medicines.
• Use caution in older adults and in people who are dehydrated, because kidney-related side effects can be more likely.
• Avoid excessive sun exposure and tanning beds; use sunscreen and protective clothing.
• Alcohol may worsen stomach upset, so ask your clinician if it is okay for you to drink while taking it.
• Do not use it for a viral illness like the common cold or flu; it does not treat viruses.

• Warfarin and other blood thinners
• ACE inhibitors, ARBs, spironolactone, or other medicines that can raise potassium
• Methotrexate
• Phenytoin
• Certain diabetes medicines, including sulfonylureas

Store Septran DS 800 mg/160 mg Tablet in its original strip or box at room temperature, away from moisture and out of reach of children.